Begga
Encyclopedia
Saint Begga (615 – 17 December 693) was the daughter of Pepin of Landen, mayor of the palace
of Austrasia
, and his wife Itta
. On the death of her husband, she took the veil
, founded seven churches, and built a convent
at Andenne
on the Meuse River (Andenne sur Meuse) where she spent the rest of her days as abbess. She was buried in Saint Begga's Collegiate Church in Andenne. Some hold that the Beguine movement which came to light in the 12th century was actually founded by St. Begga; and the church in the beguinage of Lier, Belgium
, has a statue of St. Begga standing above the inscription: St. Begga, our foundress.
The Lier beguinage dates from the 13th century. More than likely, however, the Beguines derived their name from that of the priest Lambert le Begue
, under whose protection the witness and ministry of the Beguines flourished.
, son of Arnulf, Bishop of Metz, and had three children:
on her feast days, 6 September and 17 December.
St. Begga's Feast Day is 17 December.
Mayor of the Palace
Mayor of the Palace was an early medieval title and office, also called majordomo, from the Latin title maior domus , used most notably in the Frankish kingdoms in the 7th and 8th centuries....
of Austrasia
Austrasia
Austrasia formed the northeastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising parts of the territory of present-day eastern France, western Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Metz served as its capital, although some Austrasian kings ruled from Rheims, Trier, and...
, and his wife Itta
Itta
Saint Itta was the wife of Pepin of Landen, mayor of the palace of Austrasia. Her brother was Saint Modoald, bishop of Trier. Her sister was abbess Saint Severa...
. On the death of her husband, she took the veil
Veil
A veil is an article of clothing, worn almost exclusively by women, that is intended to cover some part of the head or face.One view is that as a religious item, it is intended to show honor to an object or space...
, founded seven churches, and built a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
at Andenne
Andenne
Andenne is a Belgian municipality located in the Walloon province of Namur. On January 1, 2006 Andenne had a total population of 25,240. The total area is 86.17 km² which gives a population density of 292 inhabitants per km². The city extends on both sides of the river Meuse...
on the Meuse River (Andenne sur Meuse) where she spent the rest of her days as abbess. She was buried in Saint Begga's Collegiate Church in Andenne. Some hold that the Beguine movement which came to light in the 12th century was actually founded by St. Begga; and the church in the beguinage of Lier, Belgium
Lier, Belgium
Lier is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Lier proper and the village of Koningshooikt. On January 1, 2010 Lier had a total population of 33,930. The total area is 49.70 km² which gives a population density of 669 inhabitants per...
, has a statue of St. Begga standing above the inscription: St. Begga, our foundress.
The Lier beguinage dates from the 13th century. More than likely, however, the Beguines derived their name from that of the priest Lambert le Begue
Lambert Le Bègue
Lambert le Bègue was a priest and reformer, who lived in Liège, Belgium, in the middle of the 12th century.The son of poor people, he was ordained priest, and was probably parish priest of St. Christopher at Liège...
, under whose protection the witness and ministry of the Beguines flourished.
Marriage and issue
She married AnsegiselAnsegisel
Ansegisel was the son of Saint Arnulf, bishop of Metz and his wife Saint Doda. He served King Sigbert III of Austrasia as a duke and domesticus...
, son of Arnulf, Bishop of Metz, and had three children:
- Pepin of Heristal
- Martin of LaonMartin of LaonMartin was the count of Laon in the late 7th century....
- Clotilda of Heristal, who was married to Theuderic III of the Franks
Veneration
She is commemorated as a saintSaint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
on her feast days, 6 September and 17 December.
St. Begga's Feast Day is 17 December.